Compass’ secret bonus $8.9m school lunch contract

A school lunch described as “unidentifiable pasta ball and lentils”. (Image: NZME)

Thu, 13 Feb 2025

When Associate Education Minister David Seymour launched his alternative school lunch programme last year, the spotlight was on the $3 per meal deal leading to a trumpeted $130 million saved annually. Health experts and suppliers who lost contracts to a consortium led by multinational Compass Group were sceptical that a nutritious meal could be achieved at that price, down from the $5.56 to $8.29 spent previously depending on meal size. Turns out they may have had a point as new details emerge about extra costs creeping up after a sha...

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